DURHAM -- In the Triangle, Christmas is coming a few days early for thousands of families in need.

It's a decades-old tradition put on by the Durham Rescue Mission every year, where gifts are distributed all day.

3,000 families picked up nearly 8,000 toys throughout the afternoon.

There's also 10,000 pieces of clothing -- free to those in need -- and bags of groceries for each family to take home.

Then there's the Christmas meal -- 400 volunteers are cooking 125 turkeys -- and 360 pounds of ham.

Event organizers tell us -- they wanted the day to feel just like Christmas.

That's why there's food, fun, and carnival games -- to make this a full-day of fellowship for these families -- so many who don't have the means to celebrate like this.

Many told us that without this event, they wouldn't be able to provide Christmas for their children.

"I tell my boys all the time. It's not always about receiving, it's about giving, and coming to the Durham Rescue Mission, they give so much. I tell my boys, sometimes you don't always get what you want, but miracles do come true. If you just extend kindness and be nice to people, good things will happen to you,” said Gail McLamb, a Durham resident.